As regional award programs proliferate, and as the
Baldrige guidelines continue to be the backbone of such
programs, expect American quality and competitiveness to
keep growing stronger.
Made
in America. Words to be proud of. Quality in
America is going strong, and a significant force
behind the quality movement is that what was once
driven only from within organizations is now being
promoted externally through national, state and
regional programs. From California to Maine, private
and government organizations are promoting quality
through regional quality award programs.
The Alabama U.S. Senate Productivity and Quality Award
Examination categories include leadership, information and analysis, strategic quality planning, human resource development and management, management for process quality, quality and operational results, and customer focus and satisfaction. To qualify, applicants' productivity and quality efforts must be implemented within Alabama. Applicants may have affiliates, divisions or headquarters in other states.
Categories: Small business, manufacturing, service (including government and education)
Year Started: 1986
Baldrige-Based: Yes
Schedule: October&endash;November -- Applications available. February -- Pre-applications/eligibility determination forms due. April -- Applications due. September -- Winners selected. October -- Awards ceremony
Fees: Pre-application/eligibility determination processing fee -- $25. Application -- $100
Arizona Governor's Award for Quality
This award is patterned after the Baldrige, with two notable exceptions: All organizations -- public or private, profit or nonprofit -- are eligible, and award categories are set according to the size of the organization without limitations on the sector, industry or profit status. Public-sector and nonprofit firms compete against the same criteria as their like-sized counterparts in private industry. Any Arizona-based organization and any Arizona division, subsidiary or agency of a national organization may apply. There is no limit to the number of award recipients.
Categories: Large (500 or more employees), medium (100&endash;499 employees), small (up to 99 employees)
Year Started: 1993
Baldrige-Based: Yes
Schedule: January -- Applications and eligibility form available. April -- Eligibility form due. May -- Award application due. October -- Awards ceremony
Fees: Eligibility -- $35. Application -- Large: $1,750; Medium: $1,250; Small: $750
Arizona Pioneer Award for Quality
The Pioneer Award will be given to Arizona organizations who have begun the quality journey by establishing and deploying fundamental quality systems within their operations, demonstrating a commitment to continuous quality improvement and establishing a record of applying the philosophy and principles of total quality management. It does not emphasize that they have achieved excellent results yet, only that they have made a good start.
Year Started: 1993
Baldrige-Based: Yes
Schedule: Same as Governor's Award
Fees: Eligibility -- $35. Application -- Large: $1,500; Medium: $1,000; Small: $500
Arkansas State Quality Award
The Arkansas State Quality Award recognizes organizations that have met identified standards at four levels: Quality Interest -- for organizations beginning to express interest in quality principles; Quality Commitment -- for organizations demonstrating serious commitment to total quality management; Quality Achievement -- for organizations demonstrating significant progress in building sound processes; Governor's Quality Award -- for organizations demonstrating the utmost in quality excellence.
Categories: Any Arkansas public or private organization of any size
Year Started: 1995
Baldrige-Based: Yes
Schedule: To be determined
Fees: Application -- $1 per employee (maximum of $1,000). Site visit -- $250 a day (three days max.)
The Governor's Golden State Quality Award
The Governor's Golden State Quality Award aims toward renewing California's commitment to productivity and competitiveness. Awards will be presented to manufacturing and service companies, small businesses, health care organizations, educational institutions, and government and nonprofit organizations. Award recipients excel in any one or more of four areas: management, marketplace, workplace and community. It also honors companies that excel in all four subject areas with the Overall Excellence Award.
Categories: Large businesses (500 employees or more), small businesses (less than 500 employees), service, health care, education, government and nonprofit organizations
Year Started: 1994
Baldrige-Based: Yes
Schedule: April -- Eligibility application due. June -- Award applications due. December -- Awards announced
Fees: Eligibility -- $50. Application -- Large Overall Award: $2,000; Small Overall Award: $500
U.S. Senate Productivity Award
The Baldrige Award forms the basis for the U.S. Senate Productivity Award for California. Only California-based manufacturing companies or subsidiaries that produce and sell manufactured products or manufacturing processes, including agricultural, mining or construction products, may apply. All applicants who meet the criteria for those award levels receive gold, silver or bronze awards. The top-scoring applicant in each category wins.
Categories: Large manufacturer (200 or more employees), small manufacturer (less than 200 employees)
Year Started: 1992
Baldrige-Based: Yes
Schedule: July -- Applications due. December -- Awards ceremony
Fees: Application -- Large: $1,500; small: $750. Site visit -- Applicants pay all site-visit costs for examiners
The Eureka Award
The Eureka Award is the same as the U.S. Senate Productivity Award mentioned above, except that it honors California-based service companies, nonprofits, government entities, education, health care and small for-profit business and professional service organizations. Any entity possessing a valid business license or incorporated under California laws or registered with the California Secretary of State may apply for the Eureka Award.
Categories: Service (for-profit, 200 employees or more), small business/professional services (for-profit, less than 200 employees), nonprofit, education (nonprofit educational institutions), government and health care
Year Started: 1992
Baldrige-Based: Yes
Schedule: Same as U.S. Senate Productivity Award
Fees: Application -- Large service: $1,500; small service: $750; nonprofit: $750; education: $500; government: $500; health care: $1,500
Canada Awards for Excellence
The Canada Awards for Excellence recognize excellence in both private and public organizations on a national scale. Qualifying organizations must have made a notable venture into continuous quality improvement in the past ten years, and they must have documented proof of success over at least a three-year period. The highest honor is the Quality Award, which is divided into eight categories.
Categories: Private sector: Manufacturing (small to medium), service (small to medium), manufacturing (large) and service (large); public sector: education, government and health care; and not-for-profit
Year Started: 1984
Baldrige-Based: Yes
Schedule: April -- Applications due. October -- Winners announced
Fees: Small to medium organizations (fewer than 200 employees) -- $250 plus goods and services tax; large organizations (200 or more employees) -- $1,000 plus goods and services tax. Site visits -- small to medium, $1,500 plus goods and services tax; large, $5,000 plus goods and services tax
Entrepreneurship Award
Application to the National Quality Institute's Entrepreneurship Award is limited to individuals only.
Categories: Private sector
Year Started: 1984
Baldrige-Based: Yes
Schedule: Same as the Quality Award
Fees: None
Innovation Award
The Innovation Award is given to organizations that demonstrate an intense focus on product innovation and quality.
Categories: Private sector, any size
Year Started: 1984
Baldrige-Based: Yes
Schedule: Same as the Quality Award
Fees: None
Connecticut Award for Excellence
The Connecticut Award for Excellence (CAFE) is Connecticut's state-sanctioned quality award. Established by the governor in 1993, it is operated as a nonprofit venture between the public and private sectors. There are three levels of recognition: the Nutmeg award, for those beginning their quality journey; the Charter Oak award, for those that have made substantial progress; and the Genius Award, which mirrors the Baldrige Award.
Categories: Manufacturing, service, state and local government, health care and educational institutions
Year Started: 1993
Baldrige-Based: Yes
Schedule: August -- Eligibility application due. October -- Application due. April -- Awards ceremony
Fees: Eligibility -- $50. Application -- More than 300 employees -- $500; all others -- $250. Site visit -- More than 300 employees -- $500; all others -- $250. Application and site-visit fees may be adjusted for K&endash;12 school systems
Connecticut Quality Improvement Awards
Any Connecticut-based manufacturing or service company may apply. The award encourages companies to use quality improvement as a strategy for business success and growth by: promoting public recognition of excellent companies; making the connection between quality improvement and profit growth through the use of assessment and feedback; and through training, education and coaching. No limit to the number of winning companies.
Categories: Large (500 or more employees), both manufacturing and service; medium (101&endash;499 employees); small (1&endash;100 employees)
Year Started: 1987
Baldrige-Based: Yes
Schedule: April -- Intent-to-apply form due. May -- Written application due. September -- Feedback returned
Fees: Large: $3,000; small and medium: $900
Connecticut Small Organization/Organization Component Quality Award
Any Connecticut-based organization or component with fewer than 500 employees may apply for this award. Eligible organizations include but are not limited to: service businesses, manufacturing businesses, hospitals and health care facilities, academic institutions, nonprofit organizations and government agencies.
Categories: Small (fewer than 500 employees)
Year Started: 1994
Baldrige-Based: Yes
Schedule: April -- Intent-to-apply. May -- Applications due. September -- Feedback returned
Fees: $900
Connecticut Innovation Award
Any Connecticut organization may apply, including but not limited to: manufacturing, service, health care, education, not-for-profit social service agencies and government. All components of Connecticut organizations may apply.
Categories: All
Year Started: 1995
Baldrige-Based: Yes
Schedule: June -- Applications due
Fee: $75
Delaware Quality Award
The Delaware Quality Award rewards those organizations that have excelled in meeting the quality challenges facing modern business. Although based on the Baldrige Award, the award differs in the types of categories, these being large and small manufacturing and nonmanufacturing organizations, and nonprofits of any size.
Categories: Large (100 or more employees) and small (fewer than 100 employees) manufacturing or nonmanufacturing organizations, nonprofits of any size
Year Started: 1992
Baldrige-Based: Yes
Schedule: November -- Applications available. May -- Applications due. October -- Winners announced
Fees: Application -- More than 100 employees: $750; 99 or fewer employees: $250; nonprofits: $100
Governor's Sterling Award
Whereas only private industry can apply for the Baldrige Award, the Sterling Award also recognizes quality achievements in the public, education and health care sectors. Applicants compete against a world-class standard of excellence, not against each other. All organizations meeting the standard will be honored with an award.
Categories: Manufacturing, service, education, health care and public. Each category is divided into large (250 or more employees) and small/medium (fewer than 250 employees)
Year Started: 1993
Baldrige-Based: Yes
Schedule: September -- Application of intent due. November -- Application due. May -- Awards ceremony
Fees: Application of intent -- $50. Application -- Large: $2,000; small/medium: $500. Site visit -- $1,000 plus examiner team expenses
Georgia Oglethorpe Award
The Georgia Oglethorpe Award has been created through a private-public partnership. It is intended to recognize performance excellence, drive continuous improvement and celebrate achievements. Based in the Georgia Department of Labor and endorsed by the governor, the award will recognize Georgia organizations that make notable strides for performance excellence. Applicants must meet minimum eligibility requirements and complete a written application (which is based on the Baldrige Award criteria). There is no limit on the number of organizations that might receive the award.
Categories: Large and small manufacturing (large: 200 or more employees; small: fewer than 200 employees), large and small service, government, education, health care and not-for-profit
Year Started: 1997
Baldrige-Based: Yes
Schedule: To be determined. Awards ceremony to be held in 1998
Fees: To be determined
Hawaii State Award of Excellence
This award is Baldrige-based, but it adds a focus that perpetuates Hawaii's uniqueness and spirit of aloha. This award is open to all businesses. More than 50 percent of the applicant's employees and 50 percent of its physical assets must be located in Hawaii.
Categories: Any public or private, profit or nonprofit organization of any size
Year Started: 1994
Baldrige-Based: Yes
Schedule: December -- Applications available. March -- Eligibility applications due. May -- Applications due. October -- Awards ceremony
Fees: Application -- large (100 or more employees): $100; small (fewer than 100 employees); or nonprofit: $50. Site visit -- Large: $400; small and nonprofit: $100
Idaho Quality Award
The Idaho Quality Award uses the Baldrige Award criteria, but applicants must address only three of the seven categories. Leadership and either customer focus and satisfaction or quality and operational results are mandatory criteria. Applicants select any of the four remaining criteria for their third category.
Categories: Any public or privately held organization of any size in Idaho
Year Started: 1995
Baldrige-Based: Yes
Schedule and Fees: To be determined
Illinois Team Excellence Award
The award showcases how Illinois businesses are using teamwork, training and people empowerment to consistently supply superior products and services at an optimal cost. Employee teams must be from a company headquartered or located in Illinois, and the team must represent a cross-section of that work force. The team's case study may be part of an ongoing project, process change or one-time project to reduce costs, improve quality or safety, or increase productivity.
Categories: Large- and small-company divisions
Year Started: 1993
Baldrige-Based: No
Schedule: June -- Entry applications due. September -- Regional team presentations. October -- Final presentations and awards ceremony
Fees: $300
The Lincoln Awards for Excellence
There are three levels offered in the Lincoln Awards for Excellence: Commitment to Excellence -- for efforts to adopt and apply continuous improvement principles; Progress Toward Excellence -- for demonstrating sound and notable continuous improvement processes; and Achievement of Excellence -- for demonstrating exemplary approach, deployment and results in overall quality systems. There is no limit to the number of awards.
Categories: Education, government, health care, industry and service
Year Started: 1995
Baldrige-Based: Yes
Schedule: April -- Intent to apply. June -- Award applications due. September&endash;October -- Site visits. November -- Recipients announced. December -- Awards ceremony
Fees: 500 or more employees -- Educa-tion and government: Commitment -- $200; Progress -- $600; Excellence -- $1200. Health care/industry/service: Commitment -- $500; Progress -- $750; Excellence -- $3,000. Fewer than 500 employees -- Education and government: Commitment -- $100; Progress -- $300; Excellence -- $600. Health care/industry/service: Commitment -- $250; Progress -- $750; Excellence -- $1,500
Louisiana Quality Award
This award is given each year to recipients who meet a significant part of the criteria as determined by an objective panel of judges after they have received input from examiners. All applicants that meet the criteria and are considered to be quality organizations will receive awards.
Categories: For-profit manufacturing and service, nonprofit, government and education
Year Started: 1995
Baldrige-Based: Yes
Schedule: June -- Application deadline. August -- Site visits. October -- Award presentation
Fees: Applicant fees range from $250&endash;$1,000, depending on organization size. Site visit fees range from $500&endash;$1,500
U.S. Senate Productivity Award
In selecting a suitable recipient, the board looks at these six factors: an organization's specific productivity and quality improvement program; the program's driving force; senior management's commitment to quality and productivity; the involvement of the company's work force in the program; impact on owners, managers, employees, customers and vendors; and the transferability of the program to other private-sector business. One prize is awarded each year.
Categories: Any private for-profit or not-for-profit business of any size operating at least five years in Louisiana
Year Started: 1984
Baldrige-Based: No
Schedule: September -- Applications due. December&endash;January -- Award given
Fees: None
U.S. Senate Innovation Award
Similar to Louisiana's U.S. Senate Productivity Award, but the critical factors are somewhat different. Board members look at the specific innovation; the driving force behind it; senior manager's commitment to the activity; risks taken to develop innovation; impact on owners, managers, employees, customers, vendors and competition; and the transferability of the program to other private-sector business. One prize is awarded on an occasional basis.
Categories: Any private for-profit or not-for-profit business of any size operating at least five years in Louisiana
Year Started: 1988
Baldrige-Based: No
Schedule and Fees: Same as U.S. Senate Productivity Award above
This Baldrige-based award is open to any organization in Maine that employs five or more people. In the 1996 award cycle, the award will be offered at three different levels: Level I -- Commitment, Level II -- Progress and Level III -- Excellence (Baldrige-based). There is no limit to the number of winners.
Categories: Any organization with five or more employees
Year Started: 1991
Baldrige-Based: Yes
Schedule: March -- Intent to apply. April -- Applications due. November -- Awards ceremony
Fees: $50 plus $2 per employee. Maximum of $1,550
U.S. Senate Productivity Award
This award promotes the improvement of productivity and quality in Maryland organizations and facilitates information sharing on successful productivity and quality-improvement strategies. All manufacturing, service and public-sector organizations with five or more employees are eligible.
Categories: Manufacturing, service and public sector
Year Started: 1983
Baldrige-Based: Expect to be Baldrige-based by next year
Schedule: June -- Eligibility applications due. July -- Applications due. October -- Awards ceremony
Fees: None
Maryland Excellence Award
This award is identical to the U.S. Senate and Productivity award but applies only to education and small business. Educational institutions may apply for this award only if they are public-sector and nonprofit.
Categories: Small business and education
Year Started: 1993
Baldrige-Based: Expected to be Baldrige-based by next year
Schedule and Fees: Same as U.S. Senate Productivity Award above
Governor's Quality Awards
This award is presented to state agencies or units of state agencies that excel in productivity and quality achievement. Examiners evaluate and score applicants on five categories of information: management leadership, customer satisfaction, management of process quality, human resource excellence and the site visit.
Categories: State agencies -- Large (1,500 or more employees); medium (500&endash;1,499 employees); and small (fewer than 500 employees)
Year Started: 1992
Baldrige-Based: Yes
Schedule: April -- Applications available. August -- Applications due. October -- Awards ceremony
Fees: Application -- Large: $300; medium: $200; small: $100
Massachusetts Quality Award
The Massachusetts Quality Award has three levels: Level One is a noncompetitive organizational self-assessment; Level Two is noncompetitive and involves developing a Baldrige-based application, evaluation by a certified panel, a site visit followed by a feedback report and a planning meeting that includes the senior examiner of the panel; Level Three continues to be the competitive state-level quality award. All levels are open to all organizations within the state.
Categories: Manufacturing, government, education, small business, profit and not-for-profit
Year Started: 1991
Baldrige-Based: Yes
Schedule: October -- Applications due. March -- Awards ceremony
Fees: Level One: small (fewer than 100 employees) -- $500; medium (100&endash;199 employees) -- $1,000; and large (200 or more employees) -- $2,000. Levels Two and Three: small -- $1,000; medium -- $2,000; and large -- $3,000
Michigan Quality Leadership Award
This Baldrige-based award also includes health care and education organizations. There is no limit to the number of awards in each category. The Michigan Quality Council implemented a two-tiered award program by establishing an Honor Roll in 1995.
Categories: Manufacturing, service, health care, education, small business and the public sector
Year Started: 1993
Baldrige-Based: Yes
Schedule: March -- Eligibility applications due. May -- Applications due. October -- Winners announced
Fees: Applications -- Large companies (100 or more employees): $2,500; small companies (fewer than 100 employees): $500
Muskegon Quality Award
Any organization of any size located in Muskegon County may apply for this award. The three prize levels are Gold, Silver and Bronze. The award is based loosely on Baldrige criteria.
Categories: Any organization, including but not limited to service, banking and government
Year Started: 1992
Baldrige-Based: Yes
Fees: Application -- $100 flat rate
Minnesota Quality Award
The award goes beyond Baldrige to encourage all sectors of enterprise and provide recognition at four levels: commitment, advancement, achievement and role model excellence.
Categories: Manufacturing, service, education, government, health care and not-for-profit
Year Started: 1991
Baldrige-Based: Yes
Schedule: January -- Letters of intent due. Mid-April -- Examiner applications due. July -- Examiner training and self-assessment narratives due. July&endash;August -- Self-assessment narratives reviewed. August&endash;September -- Site visits. November -- Feedback reports and awards banquet. November&endash;December -- Improvement planning
Fees: Up to 99 employees, $1,000; 100&endash;500 employees, $2,000; more than 500 employees, $4,000
Missouri Quality Award
The Missouri Quality Award is patterned after the Baldrige Award and is designed to stimulate continuous improvement in the quality of products and services, customer satisfaction and global competitiveness. It has three size classifications: small, medium and large. The categories also vary slightly from the Baldrige, as listed below.
Categories: Profit and nonprofit manufacturing, service, education, health care and public-sector organizations. Plus three size categories: small (fewer than 100 employees), medium (100&endash;499 employees) and large (500 or more employees)
Year Started: 1992
Baldrige-Based: Yes
Schedule: April -- Eligibility applications due. June -- Award applications due. November -- Awards ceremony
Fees: Eligibility -- $100. Applications -- small: $1,500; medium: $2,500; large: $3,500. Site visit -- Applicant covers half the expenses incurred on site visit
The Edgerton Quality Award
This Baldrige-based award is open only to for-profit manufacturing and service organizations recognizing continuous process improvement and adaptation of technology in each category. Awards are presented at three levels: the Edgerton Award of Commitment, the Edgerton Award of Progress and the Edgerton Award of Excellence.
Categories: For-profit manufacturing and service
Year Started: 1993
Baldrige-Based: Yes
Schedule: June -- Eligibility application due. January -- Application due. May -- Awards ceremony
Fees: 0&endash;99 employees -- $100; 100&endash;300 -- $350; 301&endash;500 -- $500; 501&endash;800 -- $750; 801 and more -- $1,000
Granite State Quality Award
The Granite State Quality Award embraces technological change as a method to achieve maximum productivity at lowest cost; utilize continuous improvement methods to provide efficient, safe and challenging work; stimulate business growth; upgrade public and private education to promote quality awareness; promote environmental awareness; and improve living and working conditions.
Categories: Manufacturing and service. Divided into two size categories -- large (200 or more employees) and small (fewer than 200 employees). In addition, awards may be presented for excellence in any of the seven Baldrige categories
Year Started: 1995
Baldrige-Based: Yes
Schedule: December -- Applications due. May -- Awards ceremony
Fees: Letter of intent -- $50. Application -- $450. Site visit -- hosted and funded by applicant
New Jersey Quality Achievement Award
In 1997, the New Jersey Quality Award and Assessment Process will provide more options for participation and recognition. Two recognition levels include the Quality Discoverer assisted self-assessment and the Quality Explorer. Award levels include Excellence in Operations, Excellence in the Marketplace, Excellence in the Work Force and the New Jersey Quality Achievement Award for overall excellence.
Categories: Manufacturing and service -- more than 200 employees; small business -- 200 or fewer employees; support divisions of companies, government, health care, education, not-for-profit
Year Started: 1992
Baldrige-Based: Yes
Schedule: April -- Eligibility forms due. June -- Award applications due. September&endash;October -- Site visit. October -- Award winner notification
Fees: Eligibility -- $50. Application -- Large business or business support (greater than 200 employees): $1,600; all others: $500
New Mexico Quality Awards
This award began as a U.S. Senate Productivity Award in 1988. Since 1994, the New Mexico Quality Awards have used Baldrige criteria. Any organization, public or private, may apply. Applicants compete against award criteria, with no limit to the number of winners.
Categories: Any New Mexico organization, public or private, with five or more employees
Year Started: 1988
Baldrige-Based: Yes
Schedule: March -- Applications available. June&endash;August -- Application preparation workshops conducted. September -- Eligibility determinations due. October -- Award applications due. March -- Awards ceremony
Fees: Eligibility -- $50. Application -- Roadrunner: $50; Zia: $100 plus $1 per employee (maximum of $500). Site visit -- Roadrunner: Judges' discretion ($50); Zia: $250
The Governor's Excelsior Award
This program focuses on continuous improvement and labor-management cooperation as the drivers of quality in the workplace. The award is based on the Baldrige; however, it differs in that it is open to all economic sectors with specific criteria developed off a common standard for each sector. Any organization that meets award criteria may receive the award.
Categories: Private or public manufacturers or service businesses, government, health care, education and nonprofit
Year Started: 1991
Baldrige-Based: Yes
Schedule: April -- Applications available. September -- Eligibility forms due. November -- Applications due. May -- Awards ceremony
Fees: Under review
North Carolina Quality Leadership Award
This award uses Baldrige-based award criteria and training materials. The main goals are self-assessment and learning. By using the criteria for self-assessment, organizations can identify their strengths and areas for improvement. Subsidiaries of companies may apply. There is no limit to the number of awards.
Categories: Large (500 or more employees), medium (100&endash;499 employees) and small (up to 99 employees) organizations, including manufacturing, service (including not-for-profit), educational and public sector
Year Started: 1991
Baldrige-Based: Yes
Schedule: December 16, 1996 -- Eligibility applications due. March -- Applications due. October -- Awards ceremony
Fees: Eligibility -- $100. Application: Large manufacturing or service -- $3,500; medium manufacturing or service -- $2,500; small manufacturing or service -- $800; large education or public sector -- $2,000; medium education or public sector -- $1,500; small education or public sector -- $800. Site visits paid by organizations
This award recognizes teamwork and employee involvement activities in manufacturing processes. Manufacturing teams from around the state participate in the competition by making presentations that demonstrate their use of quality tools and improvement processes.
Categories: Manufacturing only, with two size categories: small plant division (fewer than 500 employees) and large plant division (500 or more employees)
Year Started: 1990
Baldrige-Based: No
Schedule: June -- Applications due. September&endash;October -- Preliminary competitions. December -- Finals and awards ceremony
Fees: $300
Team Excellence in the Public Sector
This award is designed to demonstrate the value of teamwork and employee involvement in the public sector, and to demonstrate the creativity and imagination teams possess in finding solutions to problems. Teams showcase what they have accomplished through the use of quality tools and improvement processes.
Categories: Teams employed by townships, counties, municipalities or state or federal agencies
Year Started: 1994
Baldrige-Based: No
Schedule: July -- Application deadline. October -- Showcase presentations. December -- Awards presentation
Fees: $300
Oklahoma Quality Award
The Oklahoma Quality Award closely follows the Baldrige Award, but there is no limit on the number of awards that can be given in a category. The award has three levels -- commitment, achievement and excellence. To be eligible, an organization must have operated in Oklahoma for three years and its major business function must be verified in Oklahoma.
Categories: Manufacturing, service, health care, education and government. Three size categories -- Category 1, 1&endash;50 employees; Category 2, 51&endash;250 employees; Category 3, more than 250 employees
Year Started: 1993
Baldrige-Based: Yes
Schedule: May 15 -- Applications due. October -- Awards ceremony
Fees: Category 1 -- $500; Category 2 -- $1,000; Category 3 -- $1,500
Oregon Quality Award
Categories: Manufacturing, service, education, government and health care
Year Started: 1994
Baldrige-Based: Yes
Schedule: January -- Applications available. October -- Award winners recognized
Fees: Application book -- $40. Application -- $125&endash;$1,500, depending on size
Greater Pittsburgh Total Quality Award
Organizations from all sectors may apply, and must be headquartered in the counties of Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Washington or Westmoreland. Winners will participate in the annual conference.
Categories: Formerly manufacturing, service, government, health care, education and small business; now there is a single category for all applicants
Year Started: 1993
Baldrige-Based: Yes
Schedule: To be determined
Fees: Eligibility -- None. Application -- $500. There is no site visit fee
Any organization that is currently a member of The Lancaster Chamber of Commerce and Industry may apply. The four award levels are excellence, leadership, achievement and commitment. Based on the Baldrige Award, the number of areas to address has been reduced to encourage participation.
Categories: Publicly or privately held organizations of any size, government agencies, academic institutions, hospitals and health care, banking, service, manufacturing and religious organizations
Year Started: 1992
Baldrige-Based: Yes
Any publicly or privately held organization of any size in the Lehigh Valley region may apply for this award. Organizations may apply to three award levels: highest achievement, significant progress and serious commitment.
Categories: Manufacturing, service, nonprofit, health care, education, finance, government and retail
Year Started: 1987
Baldrige-Based: Yes
Schedule: January -- Application deadlines to be decided. October -- Winners announced
Fees: Small organizations (less than 100 employees) -- $150; large organizations (100 ore more employees) -- $350
Tri-State Quality Award for Organizations
Organizations from northwest Pennsylvania, western New York and northeast Ohio may apply for the Tri-State Quality Award for Organizations. There are three award levels: the Serious Commitment Award, the Significant Progress Award and the Highest Achievement Award.
Categories: Any organization, including but not limited to manufacturing, service, education, profit and not-for-profit
Year Started: 1987
Baldrige-Based: Yes
Schedule: May -- Applications due. May&endash;October -- Review period and site visits. October -- Awards ceremony
Fees: Small (100 or fewer employees) -- $250; medium (101&endash;500 employees) -- $500; and large (more than 500 employees) -- $750
Pennsylvania Quality Leadership Award
This award follows a simplified but stringent Baldrige Award format. Any business may apply for the award. There are three award levels and no limit to the amount of winners. The highest award is the Governor's Award, followed by the Keystone Quality Award and the Cornerstone Award.
Categories: Any organization. Large (200 or more employees) and small (fewer than 200 employees)
Year Started: 1992
Baldrige-Based: Yes
Rhode Island Quality Awards
The Rhode Island Quality Awards promote excellence and competitiveness improvement and the sharing of successful performance strategies. There are three levels at which organizations apply.
Quality Commitment Award
This award is presented to organizations that have demonstrated a commitment to a quality system, which is confirmed when the organization has completed a quality system self-assessment within the past two years and has demonstrated performance improvement over the last six months.
Categories: Manufacturing, service, health care, government and nonprofit
Year Started: 1996
Baldrige-Based: Yes
Schedule: December -- Applications available. February -- Eligibility applications due. August -- All applications due
Fees: Eligibility -- $50; Application -- $75
Quality Achievement Award
This award is presented to those organizations that have demonstrated significant progress in building sound and notable processes. Recognized organizations have a documented approach, have made major progress in implementing plans and procedures, and are on their way toward achieving significant performance improvements.
Categories: Manufacturing, service, health care, government and nonprofit
Year Started: 1994
Baldrige-Based: Yes
Schedule: December -- Applications available. February -- Eligibility applications due. May -- All applications due
Fees: Same as Rhode Island Quality Commitment Award
This top award recognizes excellence and executive leadership. It is for those organizations that have demonstrated the highest level of competitive improvement and excellence. Applicants must include positive trend data and achievement of results.
Categories: Manufacturing, service, health care, government and nonprofit
Year Started: 1994
Baldrige-Based: Yes
Schedule and Fees: Same as Rhode Island Quality Achievement Award
URI/RACE Quality in Education Award
This annual award recognizes a Rhode Island school or school system that has excelled in applying quality principles in education K&endash;12. The winner receives a cash prize and a trophy. Any educational organization located in Rhode Island is eligible to apply.
Categories: Elementary, secondary and high schools
Year Started: 1993
Baldrige-Based: Yes
Schedule: July -- Applications due. November -- Winners announced
Fees: None
Governor's Award
Based on the Baldrige Award criteria. No limit to the number of winners. Organizations can participate in the quality recognition process in three ways: interested -- just beginning the quality journey, forum associate -- have a current written quality mission statement and pay annual South Carolina Quality Forum membership fees, and achiever -- forum associates that have demonstrated quality improvement.
Categories: Private, public, government and education
Year Started: 1994
Baldrige-Based: Yes
Schedule: September -- Applications due. April -- Awards ceremony
Fees: Application -- Fewer than 200 employees: $200; 200 or more employees: $500
South Dakota Business Excellence Awards
These awards honor businesses in one or more of 11 categories, including agribusiness, community involvement, customer service, environmental awareness, exports, job creation and manufacturing. Within the quality category, an award is given to the business demonstrating exceptional performance in total quality management. One firm is selected as business of the year.
Categories: Any private-sector, nongovernment, for-profit business of any size
Year Started: 1985
Baldrige-Based: No
Schedule: July -- Applications due. Awards ceremony to be held in 1998
Fees: None
Tennessee Quality Award
This award has four levels: Quality Interest, Quality Commitment, Quality Achievement and the Governor's Quality Award. There is no limit to the number of awards.
Categories: Any public or private organization of any size
Year Started: 1993
Baldrige-Based: Yes
Schedule: Mid-June -- Intent-to-apply. Mid-July -- Award applications due. January -- Awards ceremony
Fees: Intent-to-apply -- $50. Application -- $1 per employee ($1,000 maximum)
Greater Austin Quality Award
Any organization located in Greater Austin may apply. Organizations that have members on the judges panel are ineligible to receive awards. There are four categories of achievement: the Commitment Award, the Progress Award, the Significant Merit Award and the Highest Achievement Award.
Categories: Any organization may apply regardless of size or type
Year Started: 1991
Baldrige-Based: Yes
Fees: Intent-to-apply -- $50. Application -- $1 per employee, with a maximum of $1,000 ($0.50 per employee for nonprofit and government organizations)
Houston Awards for Quality
Any business located in the seven-county area around Harris County may apply for these awards. All entries, with the exception of those in the hospitals category, will be judged by panels made up of the experts from the University of Houston College of Business Administration. A panel of faculty from the University of Texas, Houston School of Public Health, will judge entries in the hospitals category.
Categories: Environment, retail (small and large), service (small and large), manufacturing (small and large) and hospitals
Year Started: 1991
Baldrige-Based: Yes
Schedule: To be determined
Fees: Application -- $50
Texas Quality Award
The Texas Quality Award honors Texas organizations that demonstrate excellence in products, services and customer satisfaction. The award is open to educational institutions, health care, government agencies, and large and small businesses.
Categories: Any size industry, service, education, government and nonprofit. Three award levels for 1997: Commitment (entry level), Achievement (mid-level) and the Texas Quality Award
Year Started: 1994
Baldrige-Based: Yes
Schedule: March -- Applications available. November&endash;January -- Eligibility requests due. December&endash;February -- Applications due. June -- Awards ceremony
Fees: Each level has a different fee range. Commitment award -- $250&endash;$1000; Achievement award -- $250&endash;$1000; Texas Quality Award -- $500&endash;$2,250. Applicant pays expenses for site visit
Utah Quality Awards
There are four award classifications: The top award is the Governor's Quality Award, followed by the Utah Progress Quality Award, the Utah Quality Improvement Award and the Utah Continuous Quality Improvement Award. There is no limit to the number of award winners.
Categories: Large, medium and small manufacturing, service, nonprofit, government and education
Year Started: 1995
Baldrige-Based: Yes
Schedule: January -- Applications available. April -- Applications due. October -- Winners announced
Fees: Application -- Large manufacturing/service: $1,950; medium manufacturing/service: $500; small manufacturing/service: $250; nonprofit, education and government: $650
U.S. Senate Productivity and Quality Award
All Virginia businesses and all organizations in the public sector are eligible. There are three levels of recognition: A medallion is awarded to the outstanding organizations in each category, a plaque is awarded to nonmedallion finalists in each category, and a certificate of merit denotes honorable mention status.
Categories: Private, manufacturing, private service, state and federal agencies and local agencies
Year Started: 1983
Baldrige-Based: No
Schedule: August -- Applications available. November -- Applications due. April -- Awards ceremony and conference
Fees: Public sector -- $150; small organization -- $300; large organization -- $500
Washington State Quality Award
This is a "competitive" type of award. Applicants who meet the criteria also compete against each other for the best organization in each category. Only one award is handed out in each category.
Categories: Large (200 or more employees) and small (fewer than 200 employees) government agencies, private, public, nonprofit, health care and educational organizations
Year Started: 1994
Baldrige-Based: Yes
Schedule: May 30 -- Eligibility forms due. June 30 -- Applications due. January -- Winners announced
Fees: Fifty or fewer employees -- $100; 51&endash;200 employees -- $500; 201&endash;500 employees -- $1,000; more than 500 employees -- $2,000